Have any of you in the Chicago area heard of this place? It looks good BUT the address is like 2000 S. State St!!!!!!!!!!! WTF!!!!!!!!!! Not a good location at all!!!!!!
Chicago: Reggies Rock Club?
- Thread starter The_Q
- Start date
Rycher
Oskee Wow Wow!
It's related to and/or next to Record Breakers, which was a cool indie store that was in Hoffman Estates for a long time and recently relocated to the city.
They had started hosting live shows in the record store a while ago and decided that they wanted to open a live music venue downtown.
They had started hosting live shows in the record store a while ago and decided that they wanted to open a live music venue downtown.
Yippee38
Living the dream!
Was that the place up on Algonquin Rd.? Our scuba show was right next door to that place if it was.
Rycher
Oskee Wow Wow!
Diabolik
Member
I have heard nothing but great things about this place. My brothers band played there and another freinds band did too. I guess they have been fixing the area up real nice there. Lots of condos being built. I guess parking is great too.
Also end of March the new Bottom Lounge is opening up. If anyone ever went there...another great club that was right near Belmont and Clark. Kataklysm, Arch Enemy, Evergrey, Dying Fetus, Macabre, and a bunch of other metal acts have played there. The new club is off of Ashland and Lake I think. Close to the Green Line stop.
With both clubs getting more and more shows...hopefully we can start getting bands to play the city instead of Mokena.
Also end of March the new Bottom Lounge is opening up. If anyone ever went there...another great club that was right near Belmont and Clark. Kataklysm, Arch Enemy, Evergrey, Dying Fetus, Macabre, and a bunch of other metal acts have played there. The new club is off of Ashland and Lake I think. Close to the Green Line stop.
With both clubs getting more and more shows...hopefully we can start getting bands to play the city instead of Mokena.
rockyracoon
...
Record Breakers was the shit when it had like 2 walls of bootleg videos. We would drive out there from Batavia all the time in high school until they allegedly got told to stop selling all the boots. After that, my interest ended. Still, that was a fucking great store, and perhaps still is. Based on it's new locale, I doubt I'll be hitting it up anytime soon.
Screw that!! It's been a long, long time since we finally got a halfway decent place on the southside for national/international touring bands to play. I'm sick of having to travel to the northside or downtown to pay outragous drink prices or pay for parking. YES! I am being selfish here. All of you in the Chicagoland area can make the trek south for a change.... AND LIKE IT!!! *slams fist on table* DAMN IT!!!
Rycher
Oskee Wow Wow!
Whenever they'd get busted for selling bootlegs, they'd put them away for a while and then eventually bring them back out. They made a killing off of those, and I'm pretty sure they just kept copying them on their own and selling the cd's for $5 a piece. Pure profit.
Osiris' Eyes
El Duderino
I am going to preface my statement by saying I am all for successful venues for all of us to enjoy the music we love to see live...it is a win win situation for everybody.
But...what is with all of this love for the Pearl Room? I don't understand why this venue has become the designated Chicago stop for metal shows. Let's be serious...the Pearl Room is nothing more than an oversized garage. There is nothing appealing about this venue...zero architectual value...out in the middle of nowhere (Mokena...are you kidding)...and the acoustics?...non-existent. Yes...I live in the city...but...I am not opposed to driving to the suburbs for a show...that's not the issue. I went to the Katatonia/Moonspell show last year and it was a good show but the Pearl Room experience was just not up to par due to the reasons listed above. Chicago is in dire need of a Center Stage-type option for shows. I personally will not go to the Pearl Room again...it's a shame because they host some great shows. This is not a personal attack on the owners or the patrons of the Pearl Room...just one man's opinion. I am looking forward to the Firewind/Dark Tranquility/Arch Enemy show at the House of Blues and of course the Dream Theatre/Opeth show at the Rosemont Theatre.
Metal does live here in Chicago...and we deserve better!!!
But...what is with all of this love for the Pearl Room? I don't understand why this venue has become the designated Chicago stop for metal shows. Let's be serious...the Pearl Room is nothing more than an oversized garage. There is nothing appealing about this venue...zero architectual value...out in the middle of nowhere (Mokena...are you kidding)...and the acoustics?...non-existent. Yes...I live in the city...but...I am not opposed to driving to the suburbs for a show...that's not the issue. I went to the Katatonia/Moonspell show last year and it was a good show but the Pearl Room experience was just not up to par due to the reasons listed above. Chicago is in dire need of a Center Stage-type option for shows. I personally will not go to the Pearl Room again...it's a shame because they host some great shows. This is not a personal attack on the owners or the patrons of the Pearl Room...just one man's opinion. I am looking forward to the Firewind/Dark Tranquility/Arch Enemy show at the House of Blues and of course the Dream Theatre/Opeth show at the Rosemont Theatre.
Metal does live here in Chicago...and we deserve better!!!
skyrefuge
Member
Why not?
It makes it a little longer drive for me from the Northwest suburbs than it is to the Empty Bottle or such, but that's really not a big deal, since it's a long drive into the city anyway. And for people like mxgonzo, it is finally a club that's on the southern half of Chicago.
Of course we'd all like to have a perfect club where all our favorite bands play a block away from where we live. But, personal preferences aside, I think it's always better to have venues in a relatively central location (unlike the Pearl Room, which is central to nothing), because that allows you to draw on the largest potential group of patrons that you can, which can help ensure a critical mass of attendance that's required for clubs and bands to survive.
Neil
rockyracoon
...
Yes!!!!!!! I'm beyond sick of the Pearl Room. It was fine when it was just for a few shows here and there, but now it's just too many. The place has no character whatsoever, Mokena is worthless, the sound can be downright awful, and if you don't care to waste your ears on whatever 10 shitty opening bands they have there is no place to hide. It's always smoky as hell too. I could go on, but seriously I've skipped great metal shows simply because I'm just sick and tired of that dump.
Diabolik
Member
you also have to think about the people who cant get out there to the Pearl Room. One thing that suburban people do not realize is that lots and I mean lots of city folk do not own cars....so a show on the outskirts of civilization...like Mokena is an impossible trek. You are definetly going to draw more people in the city than an suburb show too. There is just more people concentrated down here. There are shows that I have seen at the Pearl Room that would have been way better attended if it was in the city.
Reggies is the way to do it. You have a Record store, restraunt/bar and club all in one. The new Bottom Lounge I guess is Pearl Room size or maybe a little smaller. So maybe this will be the place to knock the Pearl Room down a peg or two.
Reggies is the way to do it. You have a Record store, restraunt/bar and club all in one. The new Bottom Lounge I guess is Pearl Room size or maybe a little smaller. So maybe this will be the place to knock the Pearl Room down a peg or two.
Diabolik
Member
I have skipped many shows there too because of the distance and way to many opening acts playing. Plus there is no where to hide when a lousy band is playing. The Bottom Lounge was great for that. The bar was seperate...you could hear a little but were not yelling just to talk.
skyrefuge
Member
True. Though to be fair, the "character" at most Chicago clubs comes because they're cramped and old and not designed as music venues.
Sure, but for people just going for the music, surroundings aren't important.
Sound can be awful anywhere. The Pearl Room isn't intrinsically worse than anywhere else, and is probably better than a lot of places.
You could not show up so early if you want to avoid them. And it's a pretty huge space, compared to a lot of the Chicago clubs, so if you go to the far side of the bar, towards the entrance, you're pretty far away from the music.
Illinois has had a statewide smoking ban since Jan 1st.
Neil
Diabolik
Member
I think what is being said that there is nothing around the area....in the city there are plenty of restraunts and stores that you can hit before or after the show...where in Mokena, it is White Castle or Wendys. I know when I used to live in the burbs and was hitting a show I would leave extra early to hit some stores and stuff before...making more of a day of it.
Every club has been blasted for booking too many bands...that will never change unfortunatly. Fireside Bowl was the worse culprit for this. They would even have bands just roll into town and pull up and ask to play and they would be up there 30 minutes later....thus shortening the headlining set.
That is more of a peomoter issue than the club.
Again, we shouldnt really be complaining due to we are lucky to get almost every tour that hits....but I think turnouts would be lots better in the city.
Every club has been blasted for booking too many bands...that will never change unfortunatly. Fireside Bowl was the worse culprit for this. They would even have bands just roll into town and pull up and ask to play and they would be up there 30 minutes later....thus shortening the headlining set.
That is more of a peomoter issue than the club.
Again, we shouldnt really be complaining due to we are lucky to get almost every tour that hits....but I think turnouts would be lots better in the city.
Here's my take on things, and this is aimed toward all who diss the Pearl Room. First of all, the location is just fine. There's plenty of free parking for those who drive. Try finding that at any Chicago venue without having to park about a mile away from the venue! Besides, those without a vehicle can take the Metra straight to the joint.
As for a lack of places to eat, there's certainly more than the two places that Diabolik mentioned. There's a Japanese steakhouse inside the same plaza, a great pizza joint right across the street, and a Subway and a Chinese restaurant right around the corner.
Anybody who complains about the sound at the Pearl Room obviously never had the pleasure of seeing shows at J.J. Kelley's or Riley's Rockhouse, which were the only two places that showcased metal for a long time in Chicagoland. In addition, if you're concerned with the aesthetics of the place, then you're really not interested in what's happening onstage.
Also, I'd like to address the concern for the so-called "crappy opening acts." As a local musician in Chicago, I put a lot of effort into getting my band on the bill with national touring acts. Unfortunately, you have to know people who know people to get an opening gig at places like the House Of Blues or the Metro. The Pearl Room is the only major venue in the Chicagoland area that gives local bands like mine an opportunity such as this.
Finally, Glenn put it best: Center Stage is a one-of-a-kind venue. To compare any other place to it is unfair. You simply can't expect every major city to have a venue like it.
Anywho, I'm glad that the Pearl Room exists. I don't think that it's better than any other venue in the area, but it's not without its merits.
Stay metal. Never rust.
Met-Al
As for a lack of places to eat, there's certainly more than the two places that Diabolik mentioned. There's a Japanese steakhouse inside the same plaza, a great pizza joint right across the street, and a Subway and a Chinese restaurant right around the corner.
Anybody who complains about the sound at the Pearl Room obviously never had the pleasure of seeing shows at J.J. Kelley's or Riley's Rockhouse, which were the only two places that showcased metal for a long time in Chicagoland. In addition, if you're concerned with the aesthetics of the place, then you're really not interested in what's happening onstage.
Also, I'd like to address the concern for the so-called "crappy opening acts." As a local musician in Chicago, I put a lot of effort into getting my band on the bill with national touring acts. Unfortunately, you have to know people who know people to get an opening gig at places like the House Of Blues or the Metro. The Pearl Room is the only major venue in the Chicagoland area that gives local bands like mine an opportunity such as this.
Finally, Glenn put it best: Center Stage is a one-of-a-kind venue. To compare any other place to it is unfair. You simply can't expect every major city to have a venue like it.
Anywho, I'm glad that the Pearl Room exists. I don't think that it's better than any other venue in the area, but it's not without its merits.
Stay metal. Never rust.
Met-Al
awesome awesome opinions! I guess I didn't really realize how lucky I was living on the northside. To be honest the southside is unknown terrtory for me and I have been lost on State street in that area about 8 years ago and was scared as hell. But if you guys say its a better area now I will take your word for it and try it out. Thats what I love about this forum, the varied opinions.
And I've not been to The Pearl Room yet so I have no opinion yet. I will be going to see Doro there so we'll see. I'm not crazy about the drive but it could be worse I guess.
rockyracoon
...
1. Location may be fine for you, but not for everyone.
2. How many of the mentioned restaurants are open after the show?
3. I live 10 min from Riley's Shithouse and experienced it dozens of times in addition to JJ Kelley's. Just because those places tend to suck doesn't make the Pearl Room any better.
4. It must not be metal to want to enjoy the venue you're at aesthetically. A venue that has character/history merely adds to the concert experience for me, and others I'm sure. Oh yeah, and I also find time to enjoy the band on stage as well.
5. 95% of the openers at Pearl Room are awful. The troubles you and your band encounter while trying to land gigs elsewhere doesn't change that fact. Easily the best local opener I've seen there is Mindwarp Chamber. They should open every metal show there.
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